Quirky Airbnbs For Families UK

Self-catering stays are perfect for families: space to kick back and run around in, storage for toys and snacks, no set meal times to contend with and the option to eat breakfast in your PJs. But for all the home-from-home appeal of a self-catering base, you still want it to feel more like a holiday and less like your actual house. Which is why we’ve sifted through Airbnb listings to handpick a selection of weird and wonderful UK properties for a holiday to remember. From treehouses to train carriages, here are our favourite family-friendly picks for an extra-special escape with the kids.

A Faraway Tree fantasy in southwest Wales! This cosy treehouse is stylishly decked out and features a bedroom, lounge and kitchen plus a balcony with forest views (sleeps four)

Owl's Nest Luxury Treehouse Escape, Carmarthenshire

Sleeps: Four (one double bed, one sofabed)

Amenities: Kitchen (no washer-dryer), TV, balcony, WiFi, parking, bed linen, hairdryer, travel cot, highchair, self check-in

Location: Carmarthenshire, Wales. A 15-minute drive from Carmarthen; a 15-minute drive from the coast

Our tween/teen kids like having their own space [in an Airbnb] and being able to cook at home makes it cheaper.

-Mumsnet user, Roseyposeypie

Book a big family escape in a windmill in Norfolk. This 7-storey stunner sleeps 15 and comes with a garden, a trampoline and an outdoor pool

Windmill in Stoke Ferry, Norfolk

Sleeps: 15 (seven bedrooms)

Amenities: Kitchen, circular dining room, viewing tower, TVs, WiFi, outdoor pool (April-October), pool towels, trampoline, games barn, travel cots, high chairs, baby monitor, dog friendly

Location: Stoke Ferry village, Norfolk. A 15-minute drive from Downham Market; about an hour's drive from Norwich and Cambridge

All aboard for fun stay in a converted train carriage in Northumberland! Set on a working farm, this railway van sleeps up to five and offers access to a BBQ, a fire pit and a hot tub

Wannies Retreat, West Woodburn, Northumberland

Sleeps: 2 (two bedrooms)

Amenities: Kitchen, cot, highchair, outdoor playground, hot tub, BBQ, fire pit, viewing platform, parking

Location: West Woodburn village, Northumberland, on the edge of Northumberland National Park. About an hour's drive from both Newcastle and Alnwick Castle.

Bundle onto a barge in Bath. This surprisingly spacious houseboat sleeps up to five and is moored close to the city's Roman Baths

Houseboat in Bathwick, Bath

Sleeps: 5 (double bed, single bed, sofabed)

Amenities: Complimentary breakfast, kitchen, bedroom, lounge, outdoor terrace with seats, wood burner, board games, WiFi dongle

Location: Moored on the river Avon in Bathwick, a 5 to 10-minute walk from Bath's famous landmarks including the Thermae Spa, Roman Baths and Bath Abbey.

Airbnb advantages: space, a garden (if you put in this filter) and when kids were younger toys etc when it is a family home.

-Mumsnet user, imfae

Escape to the country with a luxury farm stay in a converted WW2 shelter in Wiltshire. This stylish hut sleeps four and offers access to a woodland playground

The Nissen Hut, Wiltshire

Sleeps: 4 (2 bedrooms)

Amenities: Private driveway, parking, patio, woodland playground area, animals on site, underfloor heating, wood burner, kitchen, note: WiFi can be patchy

Location: Rural Wiltshire, around a 30-minute drive from Salisbury; a 20-minute drive from Stonehenge

Make a splash in a converted boathouse on the Isle of Wight. This luxury house sleeps six and features a private pool with loungers, kayaks, a pontoon, a BBQ and creek views from all rooms

Driftwood Boathouse, Fishbourne, Isle of Wight

Sleeps: 6 (3 bedrooms)

Amenities: Private pool, loungers, pontoon, kayaks, BBQ, outdoor dining area, log burner, kitchen, parking

Location: Fishbourne village, Isle of Wight. A 5-minute walk from Fishbourne ferry and beach; less than a 10-minute drive from Ryde

Top tips when booking an Airbnb property, according to Mumsnetters

I would only ever book an Airbnb that has multiple good reviews. Be aware that people tend to score properties highly, so anything other than a really high average review score means there's probably an issue. MadridMadridMadrid

If you need parking/washing machine /wifi..dont assume there is one unless you see it in the description and preferably a photo. Reviews, reviews, reviews. Never rent anything with less than 10 reviews within the last 2 yrs. SeaToSki

Some places are on Airbnb and Booking.Com so I read the reviews on both. I look carefully on what people's negative comments are to see if they are things that I would be bothered about. Too many steps or far from the beach are less of an issue for me than dirtiness or uncomfortable beds. whiteroseredrose

Bear in mind there are cultural differences, we take a roll out silicone dish drainer, and assume the oven will be a combi microwave. I always take spare tea towels and a small hand soap, plus a large mug for my tea. And tea bags of course! sixtiesbaby88

When you have your shortlist, message the hosts to enquire about your dates. Invent a question to ask if you have to. The point is not the answer to the question, but to get a sense of the host from 1) how quickly they reply, and 2) how friendly the reply is, etc. Do not ask for a discount for a standard short stay. It's a red flag to any experienced host. RogueFemale

About the author

Rachel Erdos is an Editor at Mumsnet where she commissions, edits and writes content with a focus on family travel.

She has written hotel reviews, features and destination guides for top publications including the Guardian, Four Seasons Magazine, Travelzoo, Visit Britain and Visit London. She loves nothing more than researching and writing about fun things for families to do in destinations near and far, as well as trawling the Mumsnet holiday forum for inspiration for her next trip away with her husband and two kids.